SoCon play resumed over the weekend as the Bucs took on the Mercer University Bears. The Bucs had a slow start and were able to finish the first half with a strong effort, but ultimately fell to the Bears 64-41.
Mercer came out in the first quarter with a strong defense, holding the Bucs to two points in the majority of the quarter. The Bucs tied at nine with under a minute to go before the Bears ended with a 14-9 lead.
The momentum shifted for the Bucs in the second quarter when defense held the Bears to four points. The Bucs rallied a 11-point comeback to end the first half with a lead at 20-18.
Senior Britney Snowden (Pensacola, Florida) put up a free throw, a lay up and tip in, while sophomore Erica Haynes-Overton (Nashville, Tennessee) made a free throw.
Graduate student Lexus Spears (Jacksonville, Florida) had a tip in of her own, and freshmen Shynia Jackson (Warner Robins, Georgia) drove a 3-pointer to close out the half.
Mercer came out in the second half and tied it up at the beginning of the third quarter. The Bears took control of the scoreboard for the rest of the game, holding the Bucs to at least two to five points.
The Bears finished strong in the final period adding 25 points to the scoreboard while the Bucs finished the second half just with 11 points.
Haynes-Overton led the Bucs in scoring with 12 points, while Snowden led in rebounds with seven. The Bucs finished with 18 bench points, outscoring Mercer in that category by nine.
“It has been a learning season for us,” said senior Sadasia Tipps (Hickory, North Carolina). “Things are starting to click with the team.”
The Bucs’ regular season record stands at 4-17, with a 2-3 SoCon record.
The Bucs continue SoCon action this Thursday at home against UNCG.
